Prevalence of visual acuity anomalies among pupils in age 7 and 8 years in Westpomeranian Region (Poland

 Łuczyńska V, Walczak A, Wysiecki P2, Muszyńska-Lachota I 

Purpose: Evaluation of visual acuity anomalies among 7 and 8 year olds pupils in Westpomeranian Region in the aspect of school nurses health services quality in that matter.
Material and methods: Representative sample (n=141) from the whole population of 7 and 8 years old pupils of Westpomeranian schools were screened for visual acuity with the use of Snellen standard boards. Classical methods for statistical analysis of results were used. 
Results: 141 children were examined, among them 59 (42%) from urban areas and 82 (58%) from rural areas. The prevalence of abnormal visual acuity in general population of children in the age of 7 and 8 years in the region was estimated on the base of results from studied sample on the level of 17.7%±5.0% for confidence interval 95% and was in the range 12.3-24.9%.
Conclusions: High prevalence of visual acuity anomalies in general population of pupils (17.7±5.0%) indicates that more intensive preventive care is needed, also serving by school nurses. Precision in defining methodical approach in nursing care and procedure standards with respect to the affected pupils will result in improved preventive strategies.